Container



NOV. 17, 1942. w cox 2,302,083

CONTAINER Filed April 1, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2; jnmw mm W M Q W m mmmm L.

EII; E g

A RNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1942. I. 1.. wlLcOX 2,302,083

CONTAINER Filed April 1, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J1 .-..INVENTO I. L.WILCOX Nov. 17, 1942.

CONTAINER Filed April 1, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 all/A INVENTOR.

/5AAC L. W/L

I ATTGRNEYS.

Patented Nov. 11, 1942 CONTAINER Isaac L. Wilcox, Fulton, N. Y., FallsCorporation, Fulton,

of New York assignor to Oswego N. Y., a corporation Application April 1,1940, Serial No. 327,220

Claims.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to astructure for sealing the cover member to the body of a container formedof sheet fibrous material, such as paper-board, which structure servesto permit the container to be conveniently opened and serves the furtherpurpose of providing a sanitary impervious edge over which the contentsof the container is poured, or passed, in removing the contents from thecontainer. A

It is a matter of common knowledge that the use of fibrous containers isbeing expanded, and such containers are now used extensively for liquidproducts, such for example as milk. While such containers possesscertain desirable advantages, they also possess certain inherentdisadvantages. After these containers have been manufactured and shippedto the user, it is not practical to wash or otherwise sterilize thecontainers with the result that it is not practical to sterilize orsanitize the interior of the container .or the edge over which thecontents is poured when the container has been opened. After thecontents has been placed in the container, the problem of effectivelysealing the container is a troublesome one, and one of the majordisadvantages of these containers is the absence of any means wherebythey may be conveniently opened and when opened, the contents may bepoured over a sterile or clean portion of the container.

This invention has as an object a container construction of such anature that the interior of the container and the pouring edge thereofis fully and completely protected from the time the container ismanufactured until it is opened by the ultimate user.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed. I

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container e odying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, illustrat-' ing the covermember opened, or moved out of engagement with the body of thecontainer, to permit the sameto be fllled.

Figure 3 is'a top plan view of the container body with the sealing striparranged thereon and with the cover member removed.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the upper p rtion of thecontainer taken substantially on line 4-4, Figure 2, illustrating thecover in raised position,

Figure5isaview, similartoFigure4,withthe cover moved to closed position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the sealing of thecover to the body of the container.

Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 4, illustrating the cover in openposition, the sealing strip having been severed.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the sealing strip.

Figure 9 is an endwise view of the sealing strip folded upon itself.

Figure 10 isa perspective view, similar to Figure 1, illustrating amodification of the invention including a severing member arranged inthe sealing strip.

Figure 11 is a view, similar'to Figure 10, illustrating the sealingstrip being partially severed.

Figure 12 is a view, similar to Figure 4, including the severing member.v I

Figure 13 is a perspective viewof the sealing strip of the modifiedform.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the sealing strip in folded form andarranged in inverted position.

The invention consists of a container including a tubular body Providedwith a suitable bottom member. The body member "here shown is ofrectangular cross section. However, it will be apparent that the bodymay be of various cross sectional forms. The top member here shown is ofrectangular form compiemental to the cross section of the body and isprovided with l a depending flange 2i encircling the upper or topportion of the side walls of the body, and with anfinner flange 22arranged in spaced apart parallel relationship to the outer flange II,the flanges being connected by a top wall 23 forming an inverted channelto receive the top edge of the body 20. The flange H, or flanges 2|, 22,and the top of the body. walls form confronting surfaces between which asealing strip is disposed and the particular arrangement and structureof :vhich forms the important feature of the invenion.

The cover may be sealed to the body throughout its entire periphery bythe sealing strip. However, I prefer to initially secure a portion ofthe periphery of the cover to the body at the time the container isfabricated. In the structure disclosed, the cover member is initiallysecured along two sides as 25, Figure 1 and 2, the cover being scoreddiagonally as indicated by the line 28. That portion of the coverdeflned by the side 21 may be moved toward and from the body to effectopening and closing of the container. With this arrangement, thecontents is poured from the corner of the container when the same isopened, the corner acting as a. spout to make the pouring operation moreconvenient.

The movable portion of the cover is sealed to the top of the body by asealing strip formed of impervious sheet material such as metal. foil,Cellophane, or paper treated to render the same impervious. The strip isfolded upon itself along the dotted line 28, Figure 8, to the foldedform I shown in Figure 9. This folded strip is disposed or arrangedbetween the confronting surfaces of the cover and body members with thebight 29 of the strip positioned externally of the body where it isavailable to be conveniently severed.

The folded sealing strip is initially sealed to the cover member, or thebody member, and the container is shipped to the user in this manner,whereby the confronting surfaces of the folded strip are completelyprotected against contamination. After the container has been filled,the

movable portion of the cover member is closed and the free side of thefolded strip is then sealed to the other member thus sealing the covermemher to the body member. This seal is broken by severing the bightportion of the strip and thereafter the movable portion of the cover maybe raised and the contents poured from the container over the thenexposed surface of the side of the strip sealed to the body.

Preferably the sealing strip is applied to the top of the side wallsadjacent the sides 21 of the cover and with the cover constructiondisclosed, the folded strip is continued about diagonal corners of thebody and extends a short distance along the sides of the body adjacentthe sides 25 of the cover as illustrated at 30, Figure 3, the foldedstrip extending across the top edge of the body walls and downwardlyoverlapping the inner surface thereof as indicated at 3|, Figure 4.

The inner side 32 of the strip is sealed to the side walls of the bodyand the container is shipped to the user with the cover constructionpositioned as shown inFigure 5. Accordingly, dust and othercontaminating material is excluded from the interior of the containerand the confronting surfaces of the folded strip are completelyprotected.

When the container is to be filled, the movable portion of the cover iselevated, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the container filled, the covermoved to closed position, as shown in Figure 5, and the outer side 33 ofthe sealing strip is sealed to the confronting surface of the covermember. These sealing operations may be carried out with any suitableadhesive, such as a thermoplastic. For convenience in manufacture, oneside of the sealing strip may be coated with a thermoplastic, asindicated at 35, the strip being folded so as to bring the coatedsurfaces in engagement with the confronting surfaces of the body andcover members. The sealing of the outer side 33 of the strip to thecover member may be effected in any suitable manner as by the use ofheated sealing irons 36, as indicated in Figure 6, and manipulated toeffect a squeezing pressure against the inner and outer flanges 2|, 22of the cover.

It will be understood that the sectional views Figures 4, 5, 6, '7 and12 are not true dimensional views, but the thickness of the sealingstrip and associated parts are materially increased for the purpose ofbetter illustration.

The container is opened by the customer by e of the outer cover flange2|.

grasping the exposed bight portion of the sealing strip and tearing thesame along the bottom edge The movable portion of the cover may be thenmoved out of engagement with the body, as indicated in Figure 7, and thecontents poured from the container. The contents is poured over theinner side- 32 of the now severed strip and the now exposed surface ofsaid side has been previously protected by the 'outer side 33 of thesealingstrip even during the filling operation of the container.

When the sealing strip is formed of heavier sheet material, I have foundit desirable to arrange a severing member in the nature of a tape orstring 40 in the fold of the folded strip, see Figures to 14. In orderto prevent any possibility of the fluid content of the container passingbetween the unsealed confronting sides of the folded strip and thenwicking through the string 40, the ends of the sealing strip are foldedupon themselves as indicated at 4|, Figure 13. Thereafter, the strip isfolded upon itself along the dotted line 42 presenting the form shown inFigure 14, and this folded strip is applied to the top edge of thecontainer in the manner heretofore explained.

The sealing strip is coated on one side with a suitable adhesive and theend portions 4| are folded on the uncoated side. That is, the exposedsurface of the folded ends 4| are coated as indicated in Figure 13 andaccordingly, when the strip is folded on the line 42 the thenconfronting surfaces of the folded ends 4| are sealed together and thestring is sealed in the bight or fold of the strip with one end of thestring protruding to be available to rip or sever the sealing strip asindicated in Figures 10 and 11. Preferably, the string is coated with animpervious tacky substance such as a wax or resin for complete assuranceagainst non-wicking and to serve as means for securing the concealedportion of the string in the bight and preventing the string from beingpulled out of the fold during the tearing operation. The sealing stripis conveniently severed along its fold by grasping the protruding end ofthe string 40 and pulling it downward and about the circumference of thecontainer In order to facilitate the raising of the movable portion ofthe cover, the flange 2| thereof may be scored as indicated at 44 toprovide a flap 45 which serves as a convenient handle or means formanipulating the movable portion of the cover.

I am aware of the fact that sealing strips have been heretofore employedconsisting of a fiat sheet of severable material folded upon itself andwith a severing member such as a wire or string in the fold of themember. However, I have no information thatsaid strips have been.arranged in the manner herein described to effect a protected pouringedge for the container when the same has been opened.

What I claim is:

1. A container comprising a tubular body, a suitable bottom membersecured in one end of the body, a cover member having a depending flangeoverlying at least a portion of the side wall of the body adjacent thetop thereof, a strip of impervious sheet material folded upon itself andarranged between the flange of the cover and the side wall of the bodyand extending across the top edge of said wall and downwardly on theinner surface thereof, the bight of the strip being exposed below thelower edge of the cover flange, and the inner side of said folded stripbeing permanently secured to the body, and the outer side of the foldbeing-sealed to theinner surface of the flange of .the cover, saidfolded strip serving to seal the cover to the body.

2. A container comprising a tubular body, a suitable bottom membersecured in one end of the body, a cover member having a depending flangeoverlying at least a portion of the side wall of the body adjacent thetop thereof, a strip of impervious sheet material folded upon itself andbeing arranged between the side wall of the body and the flange of thecover with the bight of the strip positioned adjacent the lower edge ofsaid flange, the confronting sides of said folded strip being unsealed,said folded strip extending across the top edge of the body anddownwardly overlying the inner surface of the body, the inner side ofsaid folded strip being sealed to the body, and the outer side of saidstrip being sealed to the cover member, whereby said strip may be tornalong its hold to unseal the container.

3. A container comprising a tubular body, a suitable bottom membersecured in one end of the body, a cover therefor having a dependingflange overlying at least a portion of the side wall of the bodyadjacent the top thereof, a strip of impervious sheet material foldedupon itself and arranged between the flange of the cover and theconfronting side wall of the body, said folded strip extending acrossthe top edge of the body and downwardly overlying the inner surfacethereof, a severing member positioned in the bight of said strip withone end of said member protruding externally of said strip, one side ofsaid folded strip being sealed to the body and the other side of saidstrip being sealed to the cover member, all whereby said strip may betorn along its fold by said severing member to unseal the cover from thebody.

4. A container comprising a tubular body, a cover member securedthroughout a portion of its periphery to the upper end of the body, theunsecured portion of the cover having a depending flange overlying theupper portion of the adjacent wall of the body, a strip of impervioussheet material folded upon itself and being positioned between saidflange of the cover and the adjacent wall of the body with the bight ofsaid strip positioned adjacent the lower edge of said flange, saidfolded strip extending over the top edge of said side wall anddownwardly over the inner surface thereof, the inner side of said foldedstrip being sealed to the side wall of the body, and the outer sidebeing sealed to the flange of the cover.

5. A container comprising a tubular body, a cover member attachedthroughout a portion of its periphery to the top of the body, theunattached portion of the cover being movable toward a and from the topof the container to open and close the same, said unattached portion ofthe cover being provided with a depending flange overlying the outersurface of the adjacent side wall of the body, a sealing strip ofimpervious sheet material folded upon itself and arranged between saidflange and the adjacent side wall of the body with the bight of saidstrip positioned adjacent the lower edge of said flange when the movableportion of the cover is in closed position, said folded strip extendingover the top edge of said side wall and downwardly overlying the innersurface thereof, the inner side of said folded strip being sealed to theside wall of the body, and the outer side of said strip being sealed tothe flange of the cover, whereby upon severance of the bight portion ofthe strip said flange is unsealed from the body wall and the outer sideof said severed strip carried by the cover flange is movable into andout of engagement with the other side of said strip upon opening andclosing movement of the cover.

6. A container for the reception of liquid products and the subsequentsealing of the container, which container when opened will present asanitary surface over which the contents may be poured comprising atubular body member, a bottom member permanently'secured in one end ofthe body, a cover member secured throughout a portion of its length tothe opposite end of the body, the unsecured portion of the cover beingmovable toward and from the body and having a flange overlying theadjacent side wall of the body, a strip of impervious sheet materialfolded upon itself and arranged between the confronting surfaces of saidflange and said side wall of the body and extending across the top edgeof said wall and downwardly on the innersurface thereof, the bight ofsaid strip being exposed below the lower edge of the cover flange, oneside ofsaid folded strip being permanently secured to the body, and theother side of said strip being coated with a material sealable to theconfronting surface of said flange.

7. A container comprising a body member, a suitable bottom membersecured in one end of the body member, a top member permanently securedthroughout a portion of its periphery to the top member, the unsecuredportion of the top member having a depending flange overlying theadjacent side wall of the body and being formed with a tab for manualmanipulation of the unsecured portion toward and from the body, a stripof impervious sheet material folded upon itself and disposed between theconfronting surfaces of said flange and the adjacent side wall of thebody and extending inwardly to the inner surface of said side wall, thebight of said strip being arranged externally of the container adjacentthe lower edge of said flange, a tear member positioned in the bight ofsaid strip and having an end portion extending externally thereof, oneside of said folded strip being sealed to said wall of the body member,and the other side of said strip being sealed to said flange.

8. A container comprising a body member, a bottom member secured in oneend of the body, and a top member, said body and top member being formedwith confronting surfaces, a sealing strip of sheet material folded uponitself and disposed between the confronting surfaces of the top and bodymembers and overlying the top edge of the body and the outer surfacethereof adjacent said edge, with the bight of the strip arrangedoutwardly, one side of said folded strip being sealed to the body memberand the other side of said strip being sealed to the top member.

9. A container comprising a tubular body, a suitable bottom membersecured in one end of the body, a cover member having a depending flangeoverlying at least a portion of the side wall of the body adjacent thetop thereof, a strip of sheet material folded upon itself and arrangedbetween the flange of the cover and the side wall of the body andextending across the top edge of said side wall, and with the bight ofthe strip positioned adjacent the lower edge of the flange of the cover,the inner side wall of said folded strip being permanently secured tothe body, and the outer side wall of the fold being sealed to the innersurface of the flange of the cover, said foided strip serving to sealthe cover to the body.

10. A container comprising a tubular body rectangular in cross section,asuitable bottom member secured in one end of the body, a cover membersecured at two adjacent sides to complemental top edges of the body, theopposite sides of the cover being provided with a depending flangeoverlying the opposite side walls of the body adjacent the top edgethereof, said cover being scored diagonally to permit flexing of theflanged portion of the cover toward and from the body, a strip of sheetmaterial folded upon itself and arranged between the flange of the coverand the adjacent side walls of the body and extending across the topedge 01' said walls and downwardly on the outer surface thereof with thebight of the strip arranged outwardly, one

side of said folded strip being sealed to the body walls and the otherside of said strip being sealed to the flange of the cover, all wherebysaid strip may be torn along its fold to unseal the flanged portion ofthe cover and permit it to be flexed upwardly to permit the contents tobe poured out of the adjacent corner of the body.

ISAAC L. WILCOX.

